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קֶרֶשׁ

𐤒𐤓𐤔

qeresh

H7175 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קרשׁ to split, to break off a piece

Definition

A structural plank or board, specifically used as one of the upright wooden frames making up the structure of the Tabernacle. The term denotes a sizeable, rectangular timber suitable for support or construction. While generally meaning a 'plank' or 'board', its biblical usage is highly specialized, almost exclusively referring to the boards forming the framework of the wilderness sanctuary.

Semantic Range

plank, board, upright beam, structural panel of the Tabernacle

Root / Etymology

The word קֶרֶשׁ (qeresh) is likely derived from a Semitic root meaning 'to break' or 'split off', referencing a piece split from a larger log for construction. The precise verbal root is not attested in Hebrew, rendering the etymology somewhat uncertain, but similar roots with the sense 'to split' appear in related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קֶרֶשׁ appears almost exclusively in the Priestly sections of the Torah, describing the wooden planks forming the Tabernacle (Exodus 26–39). The term's specification for the Tabernacle’s structure is unique; it does not refer to ordinary boards in domestic or civil architecture elsewhere in biblical Hebrew. This restricted use likely reflects the importance of the Tabernacle as a cultural and religious focal point in the text. Later rabbinic literature may use the term more generically for boards or planks, but this is post-biblical. Standard English translations as 'board' or 'plank' capture the material sense but miss the cultic specificity. The Strong's gloss reference to a 'deck of a ship' or 'bench' is not reflected in biblical contexts but stems from broader semantic possibilities in related languages or later Hebrew. In the biblical corpus, קֶרֶשׁ is most closely associated with the upright supports or panels of the shrine’s portable structure.

Translation Consistency

primary "board" 36 occurrences

The term consistently refers to the upright wooden panels forming the Tabernacle’s framework. 'Board' is the most natural, common English noun for a structural plank/board, matches typical biblical translations ('boards of the tabernacle'), and fits the SILEX range better than adjectival or rarer alternatives like 'structural' or 'plank.' Using the singular base form 'board' allows regular inflection to plural or possessive as needed.

Alternatives (15 occurrences):
"split-board" (13x) "structural plank" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to split off; a slab or plank; by implication, a deck of aship; bench, board.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קרשׁ (q-r-sh) — to split, to break off a piece

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7175-03 הַ/קֶּ֥רֶשׁ haqeresh HTd/Ncmsa the board the split-plank the split-board 13
H7175-02 הַ/קְּרָשִׁ֖ים haqerashim HTd/Ncmpa the boards the split planks the boards 9
H7175-10 קְרָשִֽׁים qerashim HNcmpa boards structural planks structural boards 8
H7175-05 לְ/קַרְשֵׁ֥י leqareshey HR/Ncmpc for the boards of to structural planks of to boards of 6
H7175-08 קַרְשֵׁ֥י qareshey HNcmpc boards split-planks of boards of 4
H7175-01 הַ/קָּ֑רֶשׁ haqaresh HTd/Ncmsa of the board the structural plank the board 3
H7175-09 קְרָשָׁ֔י/ו qerashayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its boards his structural planks his boards 3
H7175-04 לַ/קֶּ֨רֶשׁ֙ laqeresh HRd/Ncmsa for each board to the structural plank to the structural board 2
H7175-06 קָֽרֶשׁ qaresh HNcmsa boards structural plank boards 1
H7175-11 קֶ֔רֶשׁ qeresh HNcmsa frames structural plank structural plank 1

Occurrences in Scripture

51 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7175-02 Exodus 26:15 הַ/קְּרָשִׁ֖ים haqerashim HTd/Ncmpa the boards the split planks the boards
H7175-01 Exodus 26:16 הַ/קָּ֑רֶשׁ haqaresh HTd/Ncmsa of the board the structural plank the board
H7175-03 Exodus 26:16 הַ/קֶּ֥רֶשׁ haqeresh HTd/Ncmsa of the board the split-plank the split-board
H7175-04 Exodus 26:17 לַ/קֶּ֨רֶשׁ֙ laqeresh HRd/Ncmsa for the board to the structural plank to the structural board
H7175-08 Exodus 26:17 קַרְשֵׁ֥י qareshey HNcmpc boards of split-planks of boards of
H7175-02 Exodus 26:18 הַ/קְּרָשִׁ֖ים haqerashim HTd/Ncmpa the frames the split planks the boards
H7175-11 Exodus 26:18 קֶ֔רֶשׁ qeresh HNcmsa frames structural plank structural plank
H7175-01 Exodus 26:19 הַ/קָּ֑רֶשׁ haqaresh HTd/Ncmsa the boards the structural plank the board
H7175-03 Exodus 26:19 הַ/קֶּ֤רֶשׁ haqeresh HTd/Ncmsa the board the split-plank the split-board
H7175-03 Exodus 26:19 הַ/קֶּ֥רֶשׁ haqeresh-2 HTd/Ncmsa the board the split-plank the split-board
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